In fantasy basketball, fans join a fantasy basketball league, learn that league's rules, and draft a custom team of real NBA players. Success of a fantasy basketball league team depends on the success of the team's real-life NBA players. InsideHoops.com provides daily fantasy basketball news and notes.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Wednesday, February 8, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Monta Ellis, Kevin Durant, David Lee, Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, Darren Collison, Nikola Pekovic, Stephen Curry, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Roy Hibbert and Kevin Garnett.
RotoWorld reports: 76ers - Elton Brand (thumb), who has missed the last two games, is set to rejoin the starting lineup on Wednesday.
Brand's swelling has gone down enough to the point where he's able to play, and the Sixers will need him in the lineup without Hawes (Achilles) available. The veteran power forward is averaging 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocks on 47.4 percent shooting.
RotoWorld reports: Knicks - Amare Stoudemire (personal) will not return to the Knicks until Monday, meaning he will miss the next three games.
Stoudemire will sit out against the Wizards on Wednesday, Lakers on Friday and Timberwolves on Saturday. He'll be back before a battle against Toronto, and the Knicks are giving him all of the time he needs to mourn the tragic and unexpected loss of his older brother Hazell. Jared Jeffries should continue to start in Stoudemire's place and had 13 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block in his first start for STAT.
RotoWorld reports: Nets - Anthony Morrow (personal) will return to the lineup on Wednesday.
Morrow missed Monday's game to attend his grandmother's funeral, but he's rejoined the team and is expected to slide right back into the starting lineup. He's been a phenomenal source of production with MarShon Brooks (toe) and DeShawn Stevenson (knee) out, and there is no reason to think that trend will change. Morrow is averaging 18.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.2 treys in 15 games as the starting shooting guard for New Jersey.
RotoWorld reports: Warriors - Monta Ellis hit 18-of-29 shots and three 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 48 points to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in a tough loss to the Thunder.
Ellis' assist numbers are forgivable tonight, as he was simply feeling it all night long. He missed a late three to win the game, but it looked like he might have been fouled on the shot. He's averaging 22 points, seven dimes and nearly two steals per game, and showed no signs of a minor wrist injury suffered on Saturday.
RotoWorld reports: Thunder - Russell Westbrook had 31 points, seven assists, two steals, a block and a 3-pointer on 12-of-21 shooting in Tuesday's win, but also committed a season-high nine turnovers.
Westbrook has posted six or more TOs eight times this season, and while that's frustrating to owners in leagues that count them, we're still not sure why most fantasy leagues insist on penalizing the league's best players for the fact most of them are going to struggle in that category. After a slow start, Westbrook has been rolling for most of the season.
RotoWorld reports: Timberwolves - Nikola Pekovic started and got hot again on Tuesday, hitting 9-of-12 shots for 23 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 37 minutes of a win over the Kings, the third straight for the Wolves.
He scored 27 on Friday and has hit double figures in seven of his last eight games, four of which resulted in double-doubles. He benefitted from the absence of both Kevin Love (suspended) and Darko Milicic (ankle), but it looks like he is now the starting center in Minnesota. If he's still available in your league, do what you must to pick him up.
RotoWorld reports: Bucks - Stephen Jackson played 30 minutes and had 12 points, two rebounds, four assists and two 3-pointers on 4-of-11 shooting in Tuesday's tough loss to Phoenix.
Jackson had the ball in his hands for the final possession but failed to get a shot off, which will not sit well with Scott Skiles. These were Jackson's first meaningful minutes in his last six games, and he might finally be getting back into the mix. However, he'll still have to compete for shots with Brandon Jennings, Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Delfino and Ersan Ilyasova, so we're not convinced he's going to magically morph back into a must-own player. But if he's on waivers and you have someone to cut, he's worth stashing after tonight's run.
RotoWorld reports: Suns - Michael Redd came off the bench to hit 7-of-14 shots and zero 3-pointers for 14 points and four rebounds in a tough win at Milwaukee, his former hometown while playing for the Bucks.
Redd has had a couple nice games this season, but still can't be trusted in fantasy leagues. But he deserves credit for fighting back from all the knee problems, and his return to Milwaukee tonight was a feel-good story.
CBS Sports reports: The Los Angeles Times confirmed Tuesday that Clippers PG Chauncey Billups tore his left Achilles' and will miss the remainder of the season. Billups sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of Monday night's contest against the Magic and had to be carried off the court by teammates. Mo Williams stands to benefit the most from Billups' absence. Billups later told multiple media outlets that he intends to be back and play again in the NBA. "This has been the story of my career: coming back, fighting, scrapping...I will play again," the guard said.
CBS Sports reports: Warriors PF David Lee picked up his second career triple-double on Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Monta Ellis scoring 48 points, Lee chipped in 25 points with 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the Warriors, who still lost the game. Lee shot 9 for 19 from the field and hit seven free throws. He added a block in the losing effort.
CBS Sports reports: An MRI taken on Denver F Danilo Gallinari determined a chip fracture in his left ankle was likely from a previous injury, but there is no timetable for his return, the team announced Tuesday. Gallinari, who suffered the injury during Monday's game against Houston, will remain in a walking boot for three to five days and receive treatment for a significant ankle sprain. Gallinari is averaging a career-high 17.0 points per game this season. "With these kind of things, you want to take your time and heal the right way," Gallinari said.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Monday, February 6, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rudy Gay, Dwyane Wade, DeMar DeRozan, Jerryd Bayless and Rajon Rondo. There were only two games.
If you need to sign somebody, consider grabbing Greivis Vasquez of the Hornets.
RotoWorld reports: Grizzlies - Tony Allen (hip, knee) said he'll be a game-time call for Monday's game against the Spurs.
Allen was a late scratch for Sunday's loss to the Celtics. "My hip has been sore all week," he said Sunday. "Today was just one of those days. I didn't have lateral movement." Sam Young started in place of Allen, posting 10 points and four rebounds in 24 minutes.
RotoWorld reports: Clippers - Kenyon Martin is expected to play "significant minutes" for the Clippers, according to ESPN Los Angeles.
Once up to speed, Martin will serve as the first big off the bench ahead of Reggie Evans and Solomon Jones. However, Martin's ability to sustain health at age 34 and his offensive skill set are major question marks. He was a starter for the Nuggets last year, but averaged just 8.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.7 blocks.
RotoWorld reports: Celtics - Jermaine O'Neal's recent MRI revealed a bone bruise in his knee, but he intends to play through the injury.
J.O. is so banged up and chronically aching that a bone bruise was considered good news. "We were a little nervous it was [a meniscus tear]," said O'Neal. He played 26 minutes on Sunday and seemed fine afterward -- he went into the locker room during the game, but it was just to change uniforms (his had blood on it).
RotoWorld reports: Magic - Glen Davis will meet with Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith on Monday, and he's expected to return vs. the Clippers.
Davis is frustrated with his role in Orlando, where he's relegated to backup duties at PF/C. With Ryan Anderson playing at an extremely high level, there's minimal chance that Big Baby will earn much more than his current 22 minutes per game.
RotoWorld reports: Knicks - Mike D'Antoni said after Saturday's game that he is "leaning toward" starting Jeremy Lin at PG.
"Let me watch the Super Bowl and then we'll figure it out," said D'Antoni. The Knicks' guard play has been poor all season and they just won behind a huge effort from Lin, so there are plenty of reasons to believe he could become the starter. The return of Baron Davis looms as a threat to his production, but owners should stash Lin while we see how this plays out.
RotoWorld reports: Raptors - Jerryd Bayless rewarded owners who kept him on Sunday, posting 17 points, four 3-pointers, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in 39 minutes.
Bayless did all that without a single turnover, an impressive performance after his dud on Friday (1-of-6 shooting, two assists). He's bound to have some inconsistency, but as this line shows he has enough upside (and a big enough role) to be owned in most 12-team leagues.
CBS Sports reports: Bulls PG Derrick Rose was able to participate in Sunday's practice but only in a partial capacity, reports the Chicago Tribune. Rose expects to play on Monday against the Nets. Rose had his back tighten up on him in his last game on Saturday against the Bucks.
CBS Sports reports: The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports on Sunday that Hornets PF Carl Landry has a Grade 2 MCL sprain. The typical recovery time for that kind of ailment is 2-4 weeks. Landry is doubtful to play on Monday against the Kings.
CBS Sports reports: Toronto PF James Johnson started but saw 17 minutes on Sunday in a loss to the Heat. Johnson went 2 of 4 from the field in the game and scored just four points. He added five rebounds and four assists. Johnson was 0 for 1 from 3-point range.
CBS Sports reports: Boston PG Rajon Rondo's wrist looked as healthy as can be expected on Sunday in a win over Memphis. Rondo, playing in just his second game back, dished out 14 assists for the Celtics in the win. Rondo scored five points and grabbed five rebounds with two steals as well. He went 2 for 6 from the field in the game over 35 minutes.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Sunday, February 5, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Tony Parker, LaMarcus Aldridge, Derrick Rose, Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol, Tyreke Evans, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Greg Monroe, Nicolas Batum, Dwight Howard, Kyle Lowry, Kris Humphries, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and Jeremy Lin.
RotoWorld reports: Kings - Chuck Hayes appeared to aggravate his shoulder injury again on Saturday, playing just 12 minutes and finishing with two points and two rebounds.
Hayes also tweaked his shoulder a week ago and it could be a problem all season. And with Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins hot for the Kings, dumping Hayes for a guy like Bismack Biyombo, Reggie Williams, Nicolas Batum, or even Jeremy Lin, makes sense.
RotoWorld reports: Warriors - Stephen Curry took a knee to the groin during Saturday's game, but played through it to finish with 11 points, nine assists and three 3-pointers on 4-of-14 shooting.
Curry and the rest of the Warriors' starters were on Mark Jackson's bench for the whole fourth quarter, but Curry returned to start overtime. He didn't look great in his return, but the good news is that he played through it and it doesn't sound like a serious injury. Hopefully he's fine for Week 7, and at least it wasn't his ankle.
RotoWorld reports: Bucks - Stephen Jackson picked up another DNP-CD on Saturday, his third in four games.
Jackson and Scott Skiles reportedly had a "good conversation" on Wednesday, but that hasn't translated to playing time for the disgruntled veteran. This isn't likely to end happily, at least not until Jackson is traded. There are no indications that he'll suddenly rejoin the lineup as a 30-minute player.
RotoWorld reports: Blazers - Marcus Camby grabbed 20 rebounds with two assists, two steals and two blocks in less than 30 minutes on Saturday.
Camby also scored four points, but his fantasy owners aren't interested in the points column -- due to his impressive blocks and rebounds, he's quietly bringing in seventh-round value in standard nine-cat leagues.
RotoWorld reports: Blazers - Nicolas Batum (knee) scored a career-high 33 points in his return to action on Saturday, while draining a Blazers franchise-record nine 3-pointers.
Wow. Clearly Batum's knee injury didn't affect his rhythm, and he richly rewarded all those owners who stashed him despite his murky 'bone bruise' diagnosis. He shot 11-of-19 from the field, including a crazy 9-of-15 from downtown, while adding three steals and one block. It goes without saying that he belongs in all active lineups after this historic performance.
RotoWorld reports: Bobcats - Bismack Biyombo started at center on Saturday and hit 5-of-6 shots for 11 points, 12 rebounds, a steal and two blocks in a loss to the Suns.
He played 36 minutes tonight and it's time for the Cats to let him play, given that they've lost 11 straight and won just three games this season. Biyombo will struggle with foul trouble and inconsistency, but is worth grabbing in most leagues. DeSagana Diop was out with a sore knee, but the hope is that the Bobcats are going to roll with Biyombo the rest of the way.
RotoWorld reports: Lakers - Metta World Peace started on Saturday but scored just two points in 22 minutes.
MWP only attempted two shots, while guys like Andrew Goudelock (19 minutes) and Matt Barnes (19 minutes) both cut into his playing time. He's starting in real life but shouldn't be starting for average fantasy squads.
RotoWorld reports: Timberwolves - Michael Beasley had just six points and six rebounds on 3-of-9 shooting in 20 minutes of Saturday's win over the Rockets.
He came back from a foot injury and blew up for 18 and 34 points, but has scored 11, 10 and six points in his last three games. He's gotten just 21 minutes or less in those, which is part of the problem. With four games next week Beasley is a decent fantasy option, but given the minutes he's been getting, owners should take a look at other options if possible.
RotoWorld reports: Bulls - Luol Deng had 21 points, three 3-pointers, nine rebounds, one steal and one block in his return from a wrist injury on Saturday.
Deng got stronger as the game progressed and coach Tom Thibodeau showed yet again that he's not afraid to ride Deng into the ground, playing him a game-high 41 minutes in his first game back. This was a brilliant return to form, but remember that his ligaments haven't healed -- he's simply hoping to play through the pain and avoid surgery, which would sideline him about three months.
CBS Sports reports: Kings center DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, the first 20-20 game for the Kings since Brad Miller did it on Jan. 14, 2009. Cousins shot 8 for 18 from the field and knocked down all five of his freebies at the charity stripe. The big man also had two blocks, a steal and an assist in his 41 minutes on the court. The Kings would go on to beat the Warriors, 114-106, in overtime.
CBS Sports reports: While Magic coach Stan Van Gundy continued to support the idea that G Jameer Nelson is on track to return to the floor on Monday against the Clippers. However Van Gundy told the Orlando Sentinel that he did not expect Nelson to be able to get back to play full-time right away after seeing him in practice on Friday. Van Gundy said Nelson got winded very quickly during the practice. "The thing with a concussion is you can't do anything, so it's not like you're doing something to stay in shape," Van Gundy said. "Plus, on top of that, a concussion itself is a thing that leads to fatigue."
CBS Sports reports: Portland guard Raymond Felton rolled his right ankle on Saturday night against Denver. X-rays came back negative and the team is considering him day to day. In his 24 minutes of action Felton scored six points and dished out four assists in the Trail Blazers 117-97 win. He shot 2 for 6 from the field, going 1 for 3 from downtown, and hitting his lone foul shot.
CBS Sports reports: After missing Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury, Jazz G Devin Harris returned to the floor on Saturday against the Lakers. Harris had arguably his worst game of the season over 22 minutes, scoring just one point with three assists, as he missed all six of his shots on the night. It was just the second time on the season that Harris scored just one point, though he does have a game earlier in the season where he failed to score altogether.
CBS Sports reports: Detroit guard Brandon Knight saw just four minutes of action on Saturday night against New Orleans after he suffered a broken nose. He took an elbow from DaJuan Summers and left the game. The team announced after the game that he will have the nose reset and he'll likely have to have a mask. Coach Lawrence Frank hopes to have him back at practice on Tuesday. Knight scored two points, grabbed a board and had an assist before leaving the game. The Pistons went on to win 89-87.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Saturday, February 4, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Kevin Durant, Paul George, Anthony Morrow, Nikola Pekovic, Marc Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Amir Johnson, Andrew Bynum, Brandon Knight, Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, David West.
RotoWorld reports: Nuggets - Arron Afflalo scored just seven points in the Nuggets' 93-89 loss to the Lakers on Friday, hitting 3-of-7 shots from the field (including a three) with three rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 24 minutes.
Afflalo might have burned up energy covering Kobe Bryant, and lost time to red hot Al Harrington and Andre Miller, who have rendered Affalo a bystander on offense in the general sense. After 15 points on Thursday owners may want to give him a pass for the aforementioned reasons, but that sentiment is probably too much hope without enough substance.
RotoWorld reports: Lakers - Pau Gasol scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting with 17 rebounds, four assists, and a block in the Lakers' win over the Nuggets on Friday.
Gasol is providing third-round value in 8-cat leagues and second-round value in 9-cat leagues, with numbers that are slightly down across the board due to Andrew Bynum's presence.
RotoWorld reports: Nuggets - Danilo Gallinari got poked in his left eye during Friday's game against the Lakers and ultimately ended his night early, finishing with six points on 1-of-9 shooting (including a three), five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 29 minutes of action.
Gallinari briefly left the game when it happened early in the second half, and then suffering from blurred vision he finally left for good with six minutes to go. We're calling him questionable for Saturday's game in Portland until the next update. Andre Miller, Corey Brewer, and Rudy Fernandez are candidates to join the starting lineup if Gallo can't go.
RotoWorld reports: Mavs - Dirk Nowitzki busted out of his slump with a season-high 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting (including a three) with seven rebounds and two assists in the Mavs' 98-87 loss to the Pacers on Friday.
Dirk was a bit upstaged by Paul George's monster night, but he effectively slammed the buy-low window shut with the effort. We still expect some slow nights as he gets his conditioning on track, but any talk that he has 'lost it' was squashed with tonight's result.
RotoWorld reports: Pacers - Paul George set career-highs in scoring (30 points) and 3-pointers (seven) in the Pacers' win over the Mavs on Friday, hitting 11-of-19 shots from the field with nine rebounds, five assists, five steals, and one block in 41 minutes.
George gets a 5x5 line if you count the threes, and he probably also got anybody that dropped him sick at the sight of this dominant performance. He'll be buoyed somewhat by the absence of George Hill (ankle), but outside of wild offers there is no reason to sell Boy George. We still don't know exactly where his ceiling is.
RotoWorld reports: Rockets - Kyle Lowry scored just five points in the Rockets' 99-81 blowout win over the Suns on Friday, but also grabbed eight rebounds with nine assists and two steals in only 24 minutes.
The starters from both squads sat out the fourth quarter, and we've guessed that this past Thursday's court case might have been stressing Lowry out during his shooting slump. Tonight's muted results give owners another crack at buying low on him, as we doubt he struggles to score the ball much longer.
RotoWorld reports: Suns - Jared Dudley scored 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting (including two threes) with five rebounds and three steals in the Suns' blowout loss on Friday.
He played 27 minutes and would have played more if the starters weren't benched in the fourth quarter. Dudley continues to post numbers and looks like a reliable starter going forward, though we have underlying concerns about the machinery in Phoenix. Steve Nash had six points, five boards, and nine assists, and Marcin Gortat added 15 points, 12 boards, two steals, and three blocks in the loss.
RotoWorld reports: Celtics - Rajon Rondo (wrist) returned from an eight-game absence in the Celtics' 91-89 win over the Knicks on Friday, scoring seven points on 3-of-8 shooting with five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in 34 minutes.
Rondo favored his wrist throughout the game but he survived and that's the important part. After a series of misleading reports jumping the gun on his return, owners can consider tonight a win. He added a shiner in his left eye to his list of ailments, but it's not serious.
RotoWorld reports: Thunder - James Harden hit four 3-point shots on Friday against the Grizzlies, scoring 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting with two rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in 34 minutes off the bench.
Despite Thabo Sefolosha's (foot) absence Harden got his normal complement of minutes, and while his role and numbers have been all over the board this year he's been well-worth having in your lineup.
CBS Sports reports: Portland C Greg Oden will have arthroscopic surgery to remove debris from his right knee, the team announced Friday. Oden, who has not played a game in the past two seasons, will have the procedure done later Friday. Oden underwent microfracture surgery in November 2010 and has not had a firm recovery timeline since the most recent procedure. "He's still considered out indefinitely," said Blazers interim general manager Chad Buchanan, who did not rule out the possibility of further surgeries for Oden in the future.
CBS Sports reports: Denver forward Danilo Gallinari struggled with his shot on Friday night against Los Angeles as he shot a dismal 1 for 9 from the field. He did leave the game briefly after he got hit in the eye. His lone made field goal was from downtown. Gallinari converted 3 of his 4 freebies at the charity stripe, finishing with six points. He added five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in his 28 minutes of action. The Nuggets would end up losing to the Lakers, 93-89.
CBS Sports reports: Thunder G Thabo Sefolosha has missed three games with a foot injury, and he could miss a couple more, as the injury has yet to heal. Sefolosha told the Oklahoman that he has been resting the foot and will be reevaluated in the coming days. "It's not great, so we're still probably going to take it day-by-day," Sefolosha said after the Thunder's 101-94 victory over Memphis at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday night. "We're going to wait four or five days to see exactly what it is. It's a tendon in the foot. It just takes a little while to heal. I was playing on it, so now we want to be a little cautious." From the sounds of it, it does not seem as if Sefolosha will be able to go on Saturday against the Spurs.
CBS Sports reports: Knicks guard Toney Douglas got just eight minutes of action on Friday night versus the Celtics. Jeremy Lin was the first point guard off the bench in the first half and Douglas wasn't used until late in the game. He missed all three of his shots from the field, including two 3-pointers. Douglas finished the game with two rebounds and a steal. The Knicks lost the game, 91-89.
CBS Sports reports: Bucks G Shaun Livingston made his ninth consecutive start at shooting guard for Milwaukee during Friday night's contest against the Pistons. Livingston finished with 14 points in the 88-80 victory, on 4 of 6 shooting from the field. He went 6 of 7 from the free-throw line and also chipped in with four rebounds and an assist, while logging 25 minutes of game action.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Friday, February 3, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Stephen Curry, Amar'e Stoudemire, Derrick Rose, Monta Ellis, LaMarcus Aldridge, Danilo Gallinari, Tim Duncan, David Lee, Gordon Hayward (Jazz), Raymond Felton, Rudy Gay, Carmelo Anthony and John Salmons.
Some players to consider signing, if possible: Drew Gooden (Bucks), Rodrigue Beaubois (Mavs), Marcus Camby (Blazers), Tiago Splitter (Spurs), Michael Beasley (Timberwolves), Tyrus Thomas (Bobcats).
RotoWorld reports: Warriors - Stephen Curry scored 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting (including two threes) with five rebounds, a season-high 12 assists, and three steals in the Warriors' 119-101 win over the Jazz on Thursday.
The Jazz had just Jamaal Tinsley to play at PG and once the Warriors decided later in the game to attack that disadvantage by running the ball -- surprise -- they started to pull away. It didn't hurt Curry or Monta Ellis that the Jazz backcourt isn't built to stop two small guards. Ellis got back on track with 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting (including three treys) and three steals, and David Lee had 23 points and 14 boards in the win.
RotoWorld reports: Jazz - Josh Howard bounced back from a rough outing on Wednesday, scoring 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting (including a three) with two rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes on Thursday.
Yes, this came against the Warriors, who haven't improved as much as some would like you to believe defensively, but it's a nice effort nonetheless. C.J. Miles (three points, 13 minutes) was the odd-man out tonight with Howard and Gordon Hayward (21 points) getting it done. One of the three will likely struggle nightly, with the other two being more-than serviceable plays while Raja Bell (adductor) is out. Hayward is a must-own player in 12-team leagues, while Howard is a recommended add and Miles is worth a look.
RotoWorld reports: Jazz - Gordon Hayward scored 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting (1-of-4 from downtown, 8-of-8 from the foul line) with four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block in 39 minutes.
Playing next to Josh Howard has been a big boost to his otherwise fledgling value to start the season, and we'd venture to guess that having Jamaal Tinsley on the floor next to him wasn't bad, either. Hayward needs to be picked up in all 12-team leagues, but if Raja Bell (adductor) returns to the starting lineup it could be detrimental to Hayward's success. Teams simply sag off Bell, knowing they can chase him off the 3-point line, and Hayward's middling quickness becomes an issue.
RotoWorld reports: Clippers - Caron Butler (back) returned after a one-game absence on Thursday, scoring 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting (including a three) with two rebounds and no other stats in 26 minutes.
We're fine with an off-night in his first game back with the Clippers struggling. Butler has been playing pretty well so owners would be wise to leave him in lineups even after tonight's bad shooting performance.
RotoWorld reports: Nuggets - Arron Afflalo scored 15 points on 3-of-6 shooting (1-of-2 from downtown, 8-of-8 from the foul line) with three rebounds and two assists in 35 minutes on Thursday.
This is the first decent line we've seen in some time, but eight foul shots in an easy win by the Nuggets adds a bit to the fluke element. Keep a close eye on Afflalo right now, as he can be a nice fantasy asset when things are going right.
RotoWorld reports: Kings - Marcus Thornton (thigh) returned to action in the Kings' 95-92 win over the Blazers on Thursday, scoring 20 points on 4-of-13 shooting (2-of-7 from deep, 10-of-12 from the foul line) with one rebound, three assists, two steals, and one block in 41 minutes.
Jimmer Fredette was given a DNP-CD and Thornton's output is a nice down payment on owners' trust. He did get tackled by Gerald Wallace and had to be checked out for a concussion mid-way through the game. Thornton finished the game and we'll update you if there are any complications from it -- and unless there is bad news he belongs back in lineups.
RotoWorld reports: Blazers - Wesley Matthews hit just 4-of-12 shots from the field (including a three) with two rebounds, one assist, and three steals in the Blazers' loss to the Kings on Thursday.
Matthews is getting criticized heavily for his play by fans, but beat writers are a bit (read: a bit) less forgiving, and the Blazers' road woes are likely symptomatic of a larger problem. Matthews is shooting well below his career norms, making him a buy-low target in that respect, but we'd like to see less panic out of Portland before recommending him.
RotoWorld reports: Spurs - Gary Neal started at shooting guard on Thursday against the Hornets, scoring seven points on 3-of-9 shooting (including a three) with four rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 29 minutes.
It's probably long past time to forget the shooting guard position in Gregg Popovich's offense, as nobody has been able to hold consistent value ever since Manu Ginobili (hand) went down. Ginobili's return sounds sooner rather than later, too, so owners need to approach this slot with caution going forward.
CBS Sports reports: David Lee has posted a double-double in more than half the games so far this year, which is a good sign. He struggled last season, but is posting solid numbers through 20 games this year. Over his last five games he's averaging 19.2 points and 8.6 boards per contest, while shooting 52.6 percent from the field. Fantasy owners have to be happy with Lee's production this year and continue to view him as a must-start forward option.
CBS Sports reports: Kings G John Salmons has been a disappointment since Sacramento acquired him on Draft Day 2011, however he did have his biggest game of the season in the Kings’ biggest win of the season over Portland on Thursday. The 32-year old from the University of Miami scored 19 points and eight rebounds in the game – both season highs – and made more than half of his shots for the first time all year, shooting 8 of 14 from the floor as the Kings won 95-92. It was his first double-digit scoring game in seven games.
CBS Sports reports: DeMarcus Cousins continues to be the only thing that can get in the way of Cousins being a Fantasy stud. His lapses in judgment have put him in the doghouse of coaches and officials this season, and he is on pace to lead the league in personal fouls for the second season in a row. With the return of Hayes, the Kings may be more careful with Cousins minutes as they have more options at the position. Still, when he’s on the floor, Cousins is already one of the most productive centers in all of basketball, and should continue to be viewed as a No. 1 Fantasy center despite his shortcomings.
CBS Sports reports: Spurs forward Richard Jefferson has started February off slow as he's posted pretty much identical lines in both games. He scored seven points on Thursday and six on Wednesday -- both San Antonio wins. Jefferson shot 3 for 7 from the field in both contests, but hit a 3-pointer against the Hornets on Thursday. The veteran added three rebounds and a steal in his 24 minutes on the court.
CBS Sports reports: Atlanta forward Josh Smith saw just 19 minutes of action on Thursday night against the Grizzlies. With his team being blown out, Smith sat the bench late in the game. He scored 11 points and grabbed five boards during his time on the court. He shot 5 for 9 from the field and went 1 for 3 at the charity stripe. Smith added two assists and a steal in Atlanta's 96-77 loss.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Thursday, February 2, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Chris Paul, LeBron James, Steve Nash, Blake Griffin, Brandon Jennings, Danny Granger, Al Jefferson, Dwight Howard, Greivis Vasquez (Hornets), Russell Westbrook, Kevin Martin, Darren Collison, Deron Williams, Dwyane Wade.
RotoWorld reports: Mavs - Shawn Marion hurt his knee on Wednesday but played through it and finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes.
He was very concerned about the knee, which was rolled upon by Kendrick Perkins, going into halftime and was complaining of soreness. He made it through this one, but there's no telling how he'll feel going into Friday's game against the Pacers. Check back for updates.
RotoWorld reports: Jazz - Al Jefferson returned from his ankle/foot injury and had 27 points, 12 rebounds and zero blocks in Wednesday's loss to the Clippers.
Jefferson's injury could linger, but he looked great tonight, despite spending the last couple days in a walking boot. Monitor our news blurbs for updates on his foot, but for now, he looks good to go. Derrick Favors had 14 points and two blocks, but played just 18 minutes, and should no longer be in starting lineups now that Jefferson is back.
RotoWorld reports: Blazers - Gerald Wallace had 23 points, five rebounds, three steals and a block in Wednesday's easy win over his former team, the Bobcats.
Wallace is flying under the fantasy radar, averaging 13 points, seven boards, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks and 0.6 3-pointers per game coming into Wednesday's fiasco. Those numbers are going up after tonight, and he looks like a solid buy-low option, having scored 17 or more in three of his last six games.
RotoWorld reports: Bobcats - Bismack Biyombo played just 14 minutes and had three points, three rebounds, zero blocks and five fouls in Wednesday's historic loss to the Blazers.
Look, the Bobcats are just terrible, and Michael Jordan will have to turn the young guys loose soon. Biyombo is not worth owning or starting in most fantasy leagues right now, but the rookie should just be set free and get heavy minutes for the league's worst team. We don't know if it will happen, but our money's on Biyombo getting a promotion at some point in the near future. Since the Bobcats can't simply forfeit the rest of the season, they might as well play the guys who are going to shape the team's future, and B.B. is one of them.
RotoWorld reports: Spurs - Gary Neal had 15 points, two assists and three 3-pointers on 6-of-14 shooting in 34 minutes of Wednesday's comeback win over the Rockets.
The Spurs trailed by 18 in the third quarter, but Neal was one of the guys who helped lead them on a furious comeback. He scored 19 points on Sunday, zero points on Monday and then went off tonight. Gregg Popovich is the toughest coach in the league to figure out in fantasy, and Neal could easily disappear again on Thursday. Just keep a close eye on him, as he could finally be ready to step up in the absence of Manu Ginobili.
RotoWorld reports: Rockets - Kevin Martin hit 10-of-21 shots and six 3-pointers on his way to 29 points and nine assists in Wednesday's loss to the Spurs, which was also his 29th birthday.
Martin is coming off a foot injury and has scored 60 points in his last two games, making up for the heartache he caused owners when he was out for two games. However, he hit just 1-of-6 shots in the fourth quarter, as the Spurs made up an 18-point deficit and pulled away for the win.
RotoWorld reports: Thunder - Daequan Cook started at shooting guard on Wednesday but had just five points in 25 minutes.
Thabo Sefolosha is out with a foot injury, while James Harden hit just 3-of-11 shots off the bench, failing to knock down a 3-pointer. However, Harden did have 10 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, meaning Cook (and Thabo) should continue to be ignored in most fantasy leagues.
RotoWorld reports: Thunder - Serge Ibaka played 40 minutes and had four points, 11 rebounds and a season-high 10 blocks in Wednesday's win over the Mavericks.
He also had a steal, and if Scott Brooks would just turn him loose and give him these kinds of minutes every night, fantasy owners would be happy campers. Ibaka had 20 points and 12 boards on Friday, and may finally have convinced Brooks that more minutes might be a good idea. Let's hope so.
CBS Sports reports: According to the Sacramento Bee, Kings guard Marcus Thornton practiced on Wednesday and told reporters he wants to play on Thursday versus the Trail Blazers. The doctors will have the final decision if he plays, so his status is still up in the air. Thornton last played on Jan. 21 because of a hematoma in his left thigh.
CBS Sports reports: The Commercial Appeal reports Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph is making positive progress in his recovery from a torn MCL in his right knee. Randolph underwent an MRI on Wednesday. “The results came back positive and he’s on schedule and progressing,” Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said. “I don’t have a timetable for the date he’s back. But there’s no bad news. There are no red flags or talk of surgery. That’s all I’m looking for. The doctors are happy with his progress.” Randolph has been out since early January. He will now begin non-contact basketball drills.
CBS Sports reports: After returning from a back injury the night before, Bobcats G Gerald Henderson left Wednesday's contest against Portland due to a strained right hamstring and did not return. He finished with 16 points on 7 of 13 shooting before the early exit. Henderson also chipped in with three rebounds and an assist.
CBS Sports reports: Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki has not been able to get in a rhythm since returning to the court after a four-game absence. He went 2 for 15 from the floor and finished with eight points on Wednesday night against Oklahoma City. "I had some good looks," Nowitzki said. "I've just got to keep working." Nowitzki missed all five of his attempts from downtown and hit all four of his foul shots. He added two assists, two steals and eight boards in his 38 minutes of action. Nowitzki said his knee is better than it was two weeks ago, "But sometimes I don't have enough confidence in my movement if I try to make a hard move."
CBS Sports reports: Magic guard J.J. Redick tied a season-high 21 points on Wednesday night against the Wizards, despite leaving briefly in the first half with a hamstring injury. He shot 5 for 7 from the field, connecting on 3 of his 4 attempts from downtown. Redick also nailed all eight of his foul shots. He got the start again with Jason Richardson sidelined with an injury. Redick added two assists and two boards in his 28 minutes. The Magic would beat the Wizards, 109-103.
RotoWorld reports: Serge Ibaka played 40 minutes and scored four points last night, but went off with a season-high 10 blocks and 11 rebounds last night. Check my prior work to get some back-story about the so-called defensive lapses that Scott Brooks and the local media have used as rationale for why his playing time has been stolen by ancient Nazr Mohammed, mediocre Kendrick Perkins, and a solid but fully-developed Nick Collison. You’ll hear more about it today, with reports about his changed defensive approach framing the story of why a third-year player is not being developed when he has the potential to be a game-changer in the playoffs. It's bunk. Meanwhile, I’ll keep on evaluating Ibaka’s fantasy value by Brooks’ willingness to play him, and not by some misguided explanation about a guy I’ve graded out as average-to-elite on 95 percent of his defensive possessions.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Wednesday, February 1, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Anderson Varejao, Tyreke Evans, Al Harrington, Andrew Bynum, Paul George, Landry Fields, Rudy Gay, Anthony Morrow, DeMarcus Cousins, Carmelo Anthony, Roy Hibbert, Marc Gasol and Danny Granger.
RotoWorld reports: Lakers - Metta World Peace started again on Tuesday, but had just two points, two rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes.
He took just two shots, while Matt Barnes came off the bench for 10 points, five rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes. Barnes could end up replacing Metta in the starting five at some point, but both players should be ignored in most leagues for now.
RotoWorld reports: Bobcats - Tyrus Thomas disappeared on Tuesday, finishing with six points, two boards, a steal and a block on 2-of-9 shooting in a blowout loss to the Lakers.
He played 28 minutes, but we have documented clearly the fact that he tends to disappear after teasing owners with big lines. Maybe he just struggled against Andrew Bynum and the Lakers, and will bounce back against the Blazers on Wednesday. He'll face his former teammate Gerald Wallace, and is worth starting again despite tonight's struggles. Thomas is averaging nine points, six boards, 1.6 steals and 2.8 blocks over his last five games, despite's Tuesday's struggles.
RotoWorld reports: Warriors - Monta Ellis' struggles continued on Tuesday and he hit just 5-of-17 shots for 12 points, four rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes.
Monta has hit just 12-of-43 shots over his last three games, and is averaging less than 10 points over that stretch. There are no reports of an injury, and this looks more like a slump than anything else. Keep in him your lineup and hope he gets it going against the Jazz on Thursday... Stephen Curry hit just 1-of-7 shots for three points, three rebounds and eight assists in 26 minutes of Tuesday's win over the Kings.
He was on the bench for most of the fourth quarter as the Warriors put the Kings away, following news of his ankle still not feeling 100 percent. Curry had scored 15, 32 and 18 points in his previous three games, and while the ankle is a concern, Curry didn't seem to be having any issues in his post-game chat with reporters. We're expecting him to bounce back against the Jazz on Thursday.
RotoWorld reports: Grizzlies - Rudy Gay bounced back from a one-point game on Monday with 20 points, a season-high 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks and two 3-pointers in Tuesday's OT win over the Nuggets.
He hit just 7-of-20 shots, making him 7-of-27 over his last two games, but remains a must-start fantasy player, regardless of whether he's slumping or not... Marc Gasol had 20 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and three blocks in Tuesday's overtime win against the Nuggets.
Gasol is playing better than his brother, Pau, and remains a must-start player in all formats.
RotoWorld reports: Nuggets - Ty Lawson returned from his ankle injury on Tuesday and had 12 points, three boards, four assists and five turnovers in 36 minutes.
He hit a couple threes on 5-of-11 shooting, but didn't play all that well. Andre Miller had 20 points, six boards, six assists, two steals and a three on 8-of-13 shooting off the bench, as both players remain must-own in all fantasy leagues. Lawson will get better after missing a couple games with a sprained ankle... Arron Afflalo had just eight points and three assists on 3-of-7 shooting, despite playing 36 minutes in Tuesday's OT loss.
The minutes are there, but he's just not performing up to the level we expected to see. Maybe he'll break out of the funk soon, and he could be given the heavy minutes, but there might be better options on your wire. He didn't hit a three tonight, while Rudy Fernandez failed to score, missing all four of his shots in just 19 minutes.
RotoWorld reports: Knicks - Iman Shumpert started at point guard on Tuesday and had six points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals in 35 minutes as the Knicks beat the Pistons.
Mike D'Antoni suggested Shumpert's days as a starting point guard were over, but he got the call over Toney Douglas tonight. Shumpert is a tough guy to gauge right now, but if he continues to start, he's worth a close look, as Baron Davis is still a week away (or more) from making his debut. Douglas had four points and two assists in 20 minutes tonight... Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game absence and hit 9-of-14 shots for 25 points, six assists and two 3-pointers as the Knicks thumped the Pistons on Tuesday.
Finally. However, Melo said after the game he's not sure he'll make it through three games in three nights, as the Knicks have the Bulls, Celtics and Nets on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Consider him probable for all three at this point, but don't be surprised if he sits out against the Nets on Saturday.
RotoWorld reports: Pacers - George Hill has a small chip fracture in his left ankle and is being listed as out indefinitely.
The Pacers will know more on his status in the next few days, but he will not travel with the team for the next two games. Darren Collison should see a boost in minutes with Hill down and out, and is worth grabbing if he was dropped in your shallow league. Additionally, Lance Stephenson could get more minutes, but is only worth a look in deeper leagues.
CBS Sports reports: Andrew Bynum is having the campaign owners have been waiting for as he is averaging career highs in both scoring and rebounding thus far. He has put up 18.2 points with 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in his last five contests, and is shooting a solid 58 percent over that span. He should be able to keep up his production with Denver and Utah left on the schedule for Week 6 (Jan. 30-Feb. 5) so be sure to have Bynum active in all Fantasy formats.
CBS Sports reports: Andrea Bargnani had an MRI taken last week that revealed no structural, although no one is sure when he will be able to get back on the court. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on his status moving forward, although it looks like he could be sidelined for at least another week. Bargnani was averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 rebounds prior to his latest injury, so leave him reserved in the majority of formats for now.
CBS Sports reports: Grizzlies G Tony Allen continued his offensive surge during Tuesday night's contest against the Nuggets. Allen finished with 17 points in the 100-97 overtime victory, on on 6 of 14 shooting from the field. He went a perfect 5 for 5 at the charity stripe and also chipped in with eight rebounds, four blocks, two assists and one steal, while logging 36 minutes of game action.
CBS Sports reports: Celtics coach Doc Rivers said G Rajon Rondo (wrist) would not play in Tuesday's game at Cleveland, the Boston Globe reported. Rivers said Monday that he was hopeful Rondo would be able to return against the Cavaliers, but instead he missed his seventh consecutive game because of the wrist injury. Rondo, who has not played since Jan. 18 against Toronto, was replaced in the lineup again by G Avery Bradley. "He's back pretty soon," Rivers told reporters. "He may play [Wednesday], but I'd say closer to Friday would be the target date."
CBS Sports reports: Pistons PF Greg Monroe had another solid game on Tuesday night, despite the team dropping the matchup against the Knicks. Monroe went 6 of 11 from the field over 32 minutes to score 13 points and he added 12 rebounds for the double-double. Monroe also had four steals in the game, but did turn the ball over six times.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Tuesday, January 31, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Mike Beasley, LeBron James, Delonte West, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, LaMarcus Aldridge, Joakim Noah, Paul Millsap, Vince Carter and Kevin Martin.
RotoWorld reports: Mavs - Vince Carter scored a season-high 21 points in the Mavs' 122-99 blowout win over the Suns, hitting 8-of-13 shots from the field (including five threes) with three rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 28 minutes.
Carter is being leaned upon for scoring and leadership with Jason Kidd (calf), and he is worth a short-term look and also had a chance to hold some late-round value in 12-team leagues when Kidd returns. He also has durability concerns, but is the type of player that savvy owners will find room for when the going is good.
RotoWorld reports: Mavs - Delonte West scored a season-high 25 points off the bench on Monday, hitting 9-of-12 shots from the field (including five threes) with three rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 28 minutes.
West's big night made Roddy Beaubois a side-show in his start for injured Jason Kidd (calf), as hot pickup Beaubois scored eight points on 4-of-8 shooting with seven assist, one steal, and one block in 24 minutes. Lost in Beaubois-mania is the fact that West is a fine player himself and isn't just going to go away. This looks like a timeshare going forward, and one that won't be nearly as productive as it was tonight as the Mavs scored 122 points and won by 23 against the Suns.
RotoWorld reports: Blazers - Jamal Crawford scored 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting (no threes) with no rebounds, two assists, and four turnovers in 24 minutes off the bench in Monday's loss.
In 12-team leagues, Crawford has provided late-round value in 8-cat formats and borderline value in 9-cat formats, but with Nicolas Batum possibly missing time with a knee injury he should be owned in all 12-team formats and many 10-team formats. Crawford will have the bench to himself for any amount of time Batum is out.
RotoWorld reports: Bucks - Brandon Jennings scored 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting (including four threes) with four rebounds, five assists, and one steal in the Bucks' 103-82 win over the Pistons on Monday.
This is the first outing in which Jennings has cleared 50 percent shooting since January 20, putting an end to a 36-of-94 (38.3 percent) stretch over five games. We've been talking about a regression in Jennings' shooting, which at 44.1 percent entering tonight is about six percentage points higher than his career marks. Scott Skiles also said he'd check to see if the Bucks were above .500 before deciding whether or not he'd vote for Jennings to be on the All Star team, highlighting their tenuous relationship.
RotoWorld reports: Pistons - Austin Daye scored 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting (no threes) with five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in 37 minutes off the bench on Monday.
Daye soaked up some of the minutes lost by Brandon Knight, who was benched during portions of tonight's game because of poor play. Daye has been making noise ever since Tayshaun Prince went out, and with Prince back he has held some of that value. We highly doubt that Daye will find value out of Knight's bucket all year long, and with the general log-jam of talent we're only looking at Daye as a short-term play while Ben Gordon (shoulder) is out and Knight is struggling.
RotoWorld reports: Spurs - Kawhi Leonard bounced back from a brutal stretch with his first career double-double against the Grizzlies, scoring 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting with 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in 32 minutes on Monday.
Leonard did a bang up job on Rudy Gay (0-for-7 FGs, one point), but also had plenty of help from his teammates. While Leonard did provide late-round value upon taking control of the starting shooting guard job, and has plenty of upside, the propensity for Gregg Popovich to move guys around and the last week's slump are too much to ignore here. Take a flier if you want, but we're inclined to tell 12-team leagues to wait-and-see.
RotoWorld reports: Rockets - Kevin Martin (foot) returned to action in the Rockets' 120-108 loss to the Wolves on Monday, scoring 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting (4-of-6 from deep, 7-of-11 from the foul line) with two rebounds, one assist, and three steals in 34 minutes of action.
When the words 'plantar fasciitis' hit the net it can cause a panic, but we're hearing the doctors aren't sure it's PF and that it could also be an inflamed heel. Either way he looked great tonight and we doubt the Rockets would let him go full blast if they weren't reasonably confident with it. Samuel Dalembert had a relatively slow night with six points and eight boards, but Sammy also blocked four shots with a steal.
RotoWorld reports: Timberwolves - Ricky Rubio tied season-highs for points (18) and rebounds (eight) in Monday's win against the Rockets, hitting 6-of-10 shots from the field (including two threes) with 11 assists and a steal.
Rubio just keeps chugging along blasting away expectations, and Kevin Love scored 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting (including two threes) with just seven rebounds in Rick Adelman's revenge win over his former employer.
RotoWorld reports: Timberwolves - Michael Beasley set a Wolves record for points off the bench (29), hitting 10-of-14 shots from the field (2-of-3 from downtown, 12-of-12 from the foul line) with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal on Monday.
The 29 points are also a season-high for Beasley, and any question about whether or not he should be owned got answered tonight. And with his stability in question, this would also be a good time to see what Beasley can return on the market.
CBS Sports reports: Bucks G Stephen Jackson's one-game suspension for verbal abuse of a referee and failure to leave the court in a timely manner ended on Monday but he did not play in the contest against the Bucks despite being active. Coach Scott Skiles said Jackson "will have an opportunity to work himself back in there." Jackson said that's fine with him. "Everybody knows the situation. My situation is going to get better soon. Until then, I'm going to support these guys and continue to collect my check," he said.
CBS Sports reports: Orlando PG Jameer Nelson is now not expected to return from his concussion-related symptoms until at least next Monday against the Clippers, reports the Delaware News Journal on Monday. Nelson was originally hoping to return on Wednesday, but that is not going to happen, according to coach Stan Van Gundy. “Unfortunately, it keeps getting pushed back because he hasn’t felt that much better," Van Gundy said. "Right now, we’re looking at Monday at the earliest. … Obviously, that takes out a big weapon for us.”
CBS Sports reports: Portland F Nicolas Batum left Monday's contest against the Jazz in the fourth quarter due to a knee injury. He had to be helped off the court and could be seen hopping on one leg to the locker room. Batum scored 15 points with three rebounds in 31 minutes before being forced from the game. He also posted two assists, a steal and a block. After the contest, Batum called the injury a "twisted knee" and is expected to undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
CBS Sports reports: Eddy Curry continues to try and play himself into shape for Miami, but has not been getting many opportunities of late. He has appeared in just five games thus far, although coach Erik Spoelstra said he will try and start finding more minutes for the 29-year-old. However, until proves he can stay healthy and produce on a nightly basis, owners should leave Curry stashed or on the waiver wire in the majority of formats.
CBS Sports reports: Raymond Felton has gotten off to a poor start this season and is on pace to post some of the lowest numbers of his career. He is averaging just 7.6 points with 4.8 assists in his last five games, and is shooting under 30 percent over that span. He continues to see solid minutes in Portland so hopefully he will be able to turn things around as the season goes on. But until he does, keep Felton reserved in the majority of Fantasy leagues.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Monday, January 30, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Kobe Bryant, Kevin Love, LeBron James, Jason Terry, Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol, Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving, Jeff Teague, Mike Beasley and DeMar DeRozan.
RotoWorld reports: DeAndre Jordan had eight points, 13 rebounds and five more blocks in Sunday's win over the Nuggets.
Jordan came in averaging eight points, eight boards and three blocks per game, and has blocked between 2 & 5 shots in each of his last six games. He's also hauled in 11 or more boards in three of his last five games, and looks like a must-start fantasy center going forward.
RotoWorld reports: Chauncey Billups torched the Nuggets (his former team) for a season-high 32 points with four rebounds, two assists and six 3-pointers on 11-of-20 shooting in Sunday's win.
Billups was a beast tonight, obviously motivated by facing George Karl and his former teammates. His switch to shooting guard is working out well, as he came into this one averaging 15 points and two 3-pointers per game.
RotoWorld reports: Timberwolves - Michael Beasley came off the bench for 18 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, a block and two 3-pointers on 7-of-15 shooting in 30 minutes.
Derrick Williams played just 10 minutes tonight for two points, and it looks like Beasley is still in Minnesota's plans for the time being. He's back from a foot injury and is worth an add in most leagues, with the Wolves playing four games per in each of the next three weeks. If you're holding Williams, it looks like he can be dropped for a hot free agent.
RotoWorld reports: Lakers - Metta World Peace replaced Matt Barnes in the starting lineup on Sunday but missed all four of his shots for two points, four rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes.
Peace will be worth keeping an eye on now that he's starting, but offense just doesn't seem to be in his vocabulary this season. On a side note, the Lakers got their second road win of the season and beat the Timberwolves for the 16th straight time.
RotoWorld reports: Hornets - Carl Landry played just 14 minutes in Sunday's lopsided loss to the Hawks, missing all four of his shots for zero points and four boards.
Gustavo Ayon got his minutes tonight and played well, but Landry is still the player to own. There were no reports of an injury and the lopsided score probably had a lot to do with Landry's limited run. He had 17 points and six boards on Friday, so just hang onto Landry if you own him.
RotoWorld reports: Hawks - Jeff Teague not only returned from a sprained ankle, but hit 9-of-11 shots and all four of his 3-pointers for a season-high 24 points, four assists and a steal as the Hawks exploded early to crush the Hornets on Sunday.
Teague's ankle was a concern coming in, but he was fantastic tonight. The Hawks only play three games in Week 6, so make sure you don't have a better four-game option in leagues that don't restrict the number of games played.
RotoWorld reports: Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki returned from a four-game absence for knee and conditioning issues and hit 5-of-14 shots for 10 points and 13 rebounds in an overtime win against the Spurs.
This is more of the same from Dirk, and it's starting to look like the lockout may have hurt him as much as any other player this season. He's still Dirk Nowitzki and he'll be fine in the long run, but he just hasn't looked like himself thus far, which means owners would be selling too low to trade him right now.
RotoWorld reports: Spurs - Gary Neal hit 7-of-16 shots and three 3-pointers for a season-high 19 points, four rebounds, seven assists and a steal in Sunday's loss to the Mavericks.
This is what we were hoping to see from Neal when Manu Ginobili initially went down, but it wasn't meant to be. As usual, Gregg Popovich is impossible to get a read on, and while this game from Neal is an eye-opener, we'll have to see what he does in his next couple games before getting too excited.
RotoWorld reports: Raptors - DeMar DeRozan moved from starting shooting guard to starting small forward on Sunday and blew up for a season-high 27 points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block on 8-of-12 shooting as the Raptors blew out the Nets on Sunday.
It's hard to say whether his big game was due to the Nets, or the lineup change, but it was probably a combination. It also helped that Leandro Barbosa was out with a sprained ankle. DeRozan has had some ups and downs this season, but has held his value and scored in double figures in 10 of his last 12 games.
CBS Sports reports: Boston PG Rajon Rondo told CSNNE.com on Sunday that he's going to try to return from his injured wrist around the All-Star break. That would keep Rondo out until mid-to-late February. He was ruled out for Sunday against Cleveland. "I am going to play -- one day. Maybe like next -- hopefully before All-Star break," Rondo said. That’s my goal, to come back before All-Star. I’m going to try to get February, like my birthday, like before Oklahoma."
CBS Sports reports: Emeka Okafor is having a down campaign for the Hornets and is definitely missing the presence of Chris Paul. Both his scoring and rebounding have been off thus far, but he is averaging 11.2 points with 9.4 rebounds in his last five contests so hopefully he is on the verge of turning things around. With Chris Kaman likely on his way out of New Orleans, he should continue to see a major role so keep an eye on his progress. With Miami, Phoenix, San Antonio and Detroit on the schedule for Week 6 (Jan. 30-Feb. 5), continue to view Okafor as a low-end Fantasy C in larger formats.
CBS Sports reports: Tracy McGrady has been struggling a bit of late, as he has failed to score in double figures in each of his last four games. The veteran continues to see around 20 minutes a night for Atlanta, but is shooting just 39 percent from the field over slump. While McGrady can be considered a useful Fantasy option in spurts, his inconsistent production continues to make him merely a low-end option in deeper formats. Continue to view him as such heading into Fantasy Week 6 (Jan. 30-Feb. 5).
CBS Sports reports: Hedo Turkoglu's cold shooting continued and he has totaled just 10 points over his previous two games. In his past three games, he has not shot more than 30 percent from the field -- a far cry from his season field-goal percentage of 45.9. He is still trying to overcome any lingering effects of a back injury, which could be limiting his production. Fantasy owners should consider Turkoglu a viable option for Week 6 (Jan. 30-Feb. 5).
CBS Sports reports: Indiana C Roy Hibbert notched seven points and six rebounds during the Pacers' 106-85 victory over Orlando on Sunday night. Hibbert remained on the court after sustaining a mild right ankle sprain during Friday's game against Boston and logged 22 minutes of playing time. However, he connected on just 3 of 8 from the field (37.5 percent) and one free throw to finish with his lowest scoring output of the season.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Sunday, January 29, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Tyreke Evans, Kobe Bryant, Kemba Walker, JaVale McGee, Marc Gasol, Boris Diaw, Amar'e Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Drew Gooden, Andre Iguodala, Jared Dudley and Gordan Hayward. It was a six-game schedule and not many great teams playing.
RotoWorld reports: Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins reportedly doesn't expect Zach Randolph to return this season.
It's unclear exactly when Hollins voiced this opinion, and the team was "encouraged" by Z-Bo's most recent MRI. Nevertheless, there are serious challenges for a PF returning from a torn MCL and we're tempering expectations -- he'll need to get healthy, get in shape, and adjust to the Grizzlies with Rudy Gay.
RotoWorld reports: The Knicks hope that Carmelo Anthony (wrist, ankle) will play in Tuesday's home game, but there haven't been any official updates.
Mike D'Antoni said the Knicks are "playing awful" and he's been using unorthodox lineups in an attempt to find "just a little spark of anything." Carmelo's return will certainly help, but he needs to be healthy to be effective.
RotoWorld reports: Baron Davis isn't expected to make his Knicks debut "for another week or two," according to the NY Times.
Davis is physically healthy but his conditioning isn't good enough for game action, as he's been out of commission for nine months. This stings for all those owners who have him stashed away, and puts even more pressure on the reeling Knicks, who are 7-13 as we near the 1/3 mark of the shortened season.
RotoWorld reports: Channing Frye returned to the starting lineup Saturday but hit just 1-of-9 shots for two points and three boards in 14 minutes.
Markieff Morris returned to the bench and had 10 points and nine boards in 20 minutes. Morris might fare better going up against the opposition's second units, which is why Alvin Gentry made the move, while Frye should be better than this on most nights. Keep a close eye on both players going forward.
RotoWorld reports: Jared Dudley returned to the starting lineup for the Suns in style on Saturday, hitting 6-of-14 shooting with two 3-pointers for a season-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 42 minutes.
Wow. This is the game owners who drafted him were waiting for, but he's likely been dropped in your league. Add in the fact the Suns actually won a game, and Dudley could be ready to be aggressive and go on a tear. He's not a must-own player after just one nice game, but if you've got someone you've been wanting to cut, grabbing Dudley or Utah's C.J. Miles is the way to go.
RotoWorld reports: Gordon Hayward hit 7-of-15 shots and two 3-pointers for a season-high 21 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 30 minutes in Saturday's win.
He must have been fired up about Jimmer Fredette's visit, as he had hit single figures in five straight games, scoring four or less in three of them. We need to see more from Hayward before getting too excited about tonight's line, but at least he might be ready to go on a hot streak.
RotoWorld reports: Tyreke Evans hit 12-of-20 shots for a season-high 31 points to go along with six rebounds, nine assists, two steals and a block in a tough loss to the Jazz.
Evans had scored a total of 21 points over his last two games, but was feeling it tonight. He could be heating up again, so make sure you keep him in your lineup.
RotoWorld reports: Drew Gooden made another start at center for the Bucks and had 23 points, eight rebounds, a steal and a 3-pointer on 9-of-15 shooting as the Bucks stunned the Lakers in Milwaukee on Saturday.
Gooden is a beast with Andrew Bogut out for much of the rest of the season, and is flying off waiver wires in all leagues. If he's still available in yours, go get him now. He had 23 points, 15 boards, six dimes, a 3-pointer and a block on Friday night.
CBS Sports reports: Kings C Chuck Hayes re-aggravated his dislocated right shoulder during Saturday night's contest against the Jazz. Hayes, who had missed the previous 11 games with his ailment, sustained the injury in the waning moments of the 96-96 defeat. He finished with eight rebounds, while logging 20 minutes off the bench in the loss.
CBS Sports reports: For the 12th time this season Memphis center Marc Gasol recorded a double-double. He scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in his 43 minutes of action on Saturday night in Phoenix. Gasol shot 50 percent from the floor and converted 4 of his 5 foul shots. He added four blocks, a steal and two assists in the contest, but his team would lose to the Suns, 86-84.
CBS Sports reports: Charlotte G Kemba Walker finished with 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds during the Bobcats' 102-99 loss to Washington on Saturday night. It was just the third triple-double recorded in franchise history as the rookie also added two blocks and a steal. "He really is coming along and he's a really good rebounder for his size," coach Paul Silas said. "He gets in there all the time and he's putting up numbers on the board scoringwise." Walker connected on 8 of 18 shots (44.4 field-goal percentage), including 2 of 4 from downtown, in his season-high 43 minutes of playing time. "I was just more patient tonight," Walker said. "I've been watching a lot of film with the coaches and they've been showing me certain opportunities that I have on the court that I haven't been taking. Tonight, I just took those opportunities and that just made things a lot easier."
CBS Sports reports: Lakers F Matt Barnes was not much of a factor in Saturday night's contest against the Bucks. Barnes finished with just four points in the 100-89 loss, on 2 of 7 shooting from the field. He missed his lone attempt from behind the arc and also chipped in with four rebounds and two assists, while logging 21 minutes of game action.
CBS Sports reports: Knicks G Iman Shumpert was used off the bench for the first time in nearly three weeks during Saturday night's contest against the Rockets. Coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters prior to the contest that Shumpert tweaked his ankle during Friday night's contest against the Heat, so wanted to "save him a bit." Shumpert, who had started each of the last 12 games entering the contest, finished with 11 points, two rebounds and two assists, while logging 28 minutes of game action.
Fantasy Basketball Notes, Tips and Advice for Saturday, January 28, 2012
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Paul Pierce, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Rodrigue Beaubois (Mavs), Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, Dorell Wright (Warriors), Drew Gooden (Bucks), Deron Williams, Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, Josh Smith and Greg Monroe.
RotoWorld reports: Dorell Wright hit six 3-point shots in the Warriors' 120-109 loss to the Thunder on Friday, scoring 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting with nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in 30 minutes.
First things first, he hit three treys within about a minute of garbage time to put the scoring part of this line in perspective. Second, the Warriors finally got into their running game again, which has always been the true determinant of Wright's fantasy value. If owners want to try to sell-high after this line we would understand, but the real indicator is the running game -- and that we don't know about yet.
RotoWorld reports: Kevin Durant scored a season-high 37 points on 12-of-24 shooting (2-of-4 from deep, 11-of-11 from the foul line) with 14 rebounds, three assists, and seven turnovers in the Thunder's win over the Warriors on Friday.
Durant is a top-2 talent only behind LeBron James in 8-cat leagues, and trailing just Chris Paul and James in 9-cat leagues on a per-game basis right now. James Harden added 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting (1-of-4 from downtown, 8-of-8 from the line) with four rebounds and two assists in the win, and could see some extra run if Thabo Sefolosha (foot) misses any time.
RotoWorld reports: Marcus Camby grabbed 20 rebounds and did not score a point in the Blazers' 109-71 destruction of the Suns on Friday.
This is typical Camby business as he is destroying the glass right now with 42 rebounds in his last two games. That makes him good enough to be owned in 12-team leagues, no matter how glaring his injury risk is.
RotoWorld reports: Channing Frye scored five points on 2-of-8 shooting (including a three) with seven rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block in 28 minutes off the bench on Friday.
The Suns are awful. Their offense used to get by on Steve Nash's quicks, but those quicks aren't there and now other guys have to do their own work. That resulted in a season-low 71 points for the Suns tonight, and afterward Alvin Gentry talked about making changes. That could mean that Frye and Jared Dudley (eight points, 4-of-5 FGs, 23 minutes) are heading back to the starting lineup. If you've been painfully holding Frye (or Dudley), this could mean to keep on holding, though we'd understand if owners have moved on. Markieff Morris (three points, four boards, one block, 18 minutes) and Ronnie Price (no points, 13 minutes) are on thin ice and Morris can be dropped.
RotoWorld reports: Rudy Fernandez scored a season-high 23 points off the bench on Friday, hitting 9-of-11 shots from the field (including five threes) with one rebound, one assist, and three steals in 33 minutes.
Rudy was a recommended spot-play with Ty Lawson out, but with Lawson sounding like he could play on Sunday that may not be the case next time out. Either way, if you're in a pinch give him a look because he's hot. Fernandez's hot streak tonight rendered Al Harrington (nine points, five rebounds, 3-of-10 FGs) and Corey Brewer (six points, five boards, 20 minutes) unnecessary.
RotoWorld reports: Amir Johnson played just 14 minutes on Friday despite Andrea Bargnani's (calf) absence, scoring four points on 2-of-4 shooting with two rebounds, one assist, and one block.
Johnson had four fouls, but we're still concerned about him being in the doghouse with Dwane Casey. The good news is that if/when he gets out of it there will be plenty of opportunity to produce with Bargs out, but the question is whether owners can hang with him on the bench in 8- and 9-cat leagues. We'd understand if you have to drop him, but with Bargs out we like his chances to produce once he and Casey play nice.
RotoWorld reports: Vince Carter returned from a five-game absence with a foot injury on Friday and had 12 points, four boards, three assists and a 3-pointer in a win over the Jazz.
Jason Kidd left tonight's game early with a calf injury, and it's possible that Carter could return to the starting shooting guard role, with Roddy Beaubois at point guard. If it happens, Carter is worth a look in most leagues, but his next injury could come at any time.
RotoWorld reports: Lamar Odom had a season-high 19 points, five rebounds and three 3-pointers on 7-of-12 shooting in 32 minutes of Friday's win over the Jazz.
Odom has been dreadful this year and Dirk Nowitzki is due back Sunday, which will send Odom to the bench. He was fine tonight, but we need to see this kind of production again before recommending he be in starting fantasy lineups.
RotoWorld reports: Iman Shumpert continued to struggle on Friday against the Heat, scoring five points on 2-of-6 shooting (including a three) with one rebound, two assists, and one steal in 20 minutes.
The Knicks have drastically overhauled their offense over the past three games, with tonight's contest being a 3-point shootout as Mike D'Antoni felt he couldn't win without a historic effort from beyond the arc. Prior to that, the Knicks moved to a motion offense that the media hasn't picked up on yet, and it makes sense that the rookie would suffer with the ball not in his hands as much. Feel free to drop him for a hot free agent, but we really like his chances of being a productive player down the road.
CBS Sports reports: Pacers center Roy Hibbert sustained a mild right ankle sprain on Friday night against the Celtics. He would return to the game, but struggled to get into a rhythm. He shot 5 for 13 from the floor and hit his lone free throw attempt, finishing with 11 points. Hibbert added seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal in his 28 minutes of court time. He also committed six of his team's 15 turnovers in the 94-87 loss.
CBS Sports reports: Chicago forward Luol Deng was targeting a return to the court on Sunday, but he told Bulls.com on Friday that he's still at least a week away from hitting the floor. Deng has a torn ligament in his left wrist and is still in a lot of pain. Doctors have suggested Deng have surgery on his ailing wrist, but that would reportedly sideline him for three to four months, but it seems like Deng is trying to avoid surgery and missing an extensive time.
CBS Sports reports: Milwaukee C Andrew Bogut will be out eight to 12 weeks after having additional testing on his fractured left ankle, the team announced Friday. Bogut suffered the injury during Wednesday's game against Houston when his foot came down awkwardly on Kyle Lowry's foot after the Australian tried to block a shot in the first quarter. Bogut has averaged 11.3 points, a team-high 8.3 rebounds and a 2.0 blocked shots in 12 games this season. If he misses the minimum amount of playing time, Bogut would be facing just 18 games left in the regular season.
CBS Sports reports: Milwaukee forward Drew Gooden got the start on Friday night against Chicago in place of the injured Andrew Bogut. Gooden filled in admirably for Bogut earlier this season and is averaging 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Gooden posted a season-high 15 rebounds and scored 23 points for the Bucks, but they would still lose to the Bulls, 107-100. Gooden shot 6 for 14 from the floor and nailed all 10 of his freebies at the charity stripe. Gooden wasn't done though as he added a block and a team-high six assists.
CBS Sports reports: Golden State forward Dorell Wright led his team with 23 points on Friday night against Oklahoma City. He did most of his damage from downtown as he connected on 6 of his 9 shots from deep. Wright shot 8 for 14 from the floor. He fell just short of a double-double as he grabbed nine boards. Wright added two steals, a block and five assists in his 31 minutes of action, but it wouldn't be enough as the Thunder would beat the Warriors, 120-109.
CBS Sports reports: Milwaukee guard Brandon Jennings entered Friday on a hot streak, averaging 26 points over his previous five games. He surpassed the 20-point mark for the sixth straight time, the longest streak of his career. Jennings finished the game with 25 points, seven rebounds, two steals and three assists. The Bucks would lose to the Bulls, 107-100, as Derrick Rose went off for a season-high 34 points. Jennings shot 10 for 22 from the field and connected on 4 of his 11 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.
Fantasy Hoops: The Answergrinch [Fantasy] Fantasy basketball analysis of the Vince Carter trade, Jason Terry starting, Baron Davis getting healthy and more. [Dec 22]
Fantasy Basketball Advice [Fantasy Hoops] The Answerman names players to avoid and players to grab, with full explanations. [Oct 11]
Fantasy Basketball Advice [Fantasy Basketball] The infamous Answerman is back to discuss key players that fit into good, bad and ugly situations. [Sept 27]
2003-04 Fantasy Basketball Articles
Fantasy: What we learned [Fantasy Basketball] A look at
what we learned about various players over this season from a fantasy perspective,
from your host, your hero, the Answerman. [Apr 20]
Fantasy Playoffs Help
[Fantasy Basketball] Answerman
helps you win your league - or at least think you might before cruel reality strikes
you. [Mar 30]
Fantasy Trade Scenarios [Fantasy Basketball] Looking
at possible trades you might consider making in your league. [Feb 19]
Fantasy Basketball Help
[Fantasy Basketball] The
Answerman reviews players who you may have to get rid of. [Feb 12]
Fantasy Basketball Help
[Fantasy Basketball] The
Answerman responds to your em-mailed questions about specific league situations.
[Feb 5]
Fantasy Answers [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman
look at this season's surprise and disappointing fantasy players, examining each
player's situation. [Jan 29]
Fantasy Answers [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman
helps a fantasy player with his squad. Read his advice. [Jan 23]
Fantasy Basketball Resolutions [Fantasy Basketball] New
year's resolutions for fantasy basketball players. Helpful reminders on what to
do. [Jan 5]
Fantasy Basketball:
Mailbag [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman
opens his mailbag and responds to the madness within. [Dec 15]
Fantasy Basketball Answers [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman
helps you with your team, giving million-dollar advice for far below half price.
[Dec 8]
Fantasy:
How to Trade [Fantasy Basketball]
An advice column on pulling off proper fantasy basketball trades. [Dec 1]
Fantasy Answers [Fantasy Basketball] InsideHoops.com's
legendary Answerman goes through some reader mail. [Nov 21]
Fantasy Basketball Help [Fantasy Basketball] The
Answerman looks at a reader's roster and comments on it, flips it, flops it, suggests
trades, and maybe does something else. [Nov 11]
Fantasy Basketball:
Interruption [Fantasy Basketball]
The legendary Answerman talks about not being too fooled by stuff that happens
in the first week of the NBA regular season. And as usual, some bonus dating advice
is included. [Nov 8]
Fantasy Basketball Answers [Fantasy Basketball]
The legendary Answerman answers questions about drafting a team. Heed the advice.
[Nov 3]
Your letters [Fantasy basketball]
The Answerman responds to mail regarding fantasy basketball and the upcoming season.
[Oct 25]
Fantasy Basketball:
how to draft [Fantasy] The Answerman
shares his expert views on drafting players for your fantasy basketball team.
[Oct 15]
Preparing for fantasy
basketball [Fantasy] Here's
the opening feature from the Answerman. As an added bonus, you guys out there
get dating advice. [Oct 10]
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Monta Ellis, Kevin Durant, David Lee, Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, Darren Collison, Nikola Pekovic, Stephen Curry, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Roy Hibbert and Kevin Garnett.
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rudy Gay, Dwyane Wade, DeMar DeRozan, Jerryd Bayless and Rajon Rondo. There were only two games.
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Tony Parker, LaMarcus Aldridge, Derrick Rose, Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol, Tyreke Evans, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Greg Monroe, Nicolas Batum, Dwight Howard, Kyle Lowry, Kris Humphries, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and Jeremy Lin.
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Kevin Durant, Paul George, Anthony Morrow, Nikola Pekovic, Marc Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Amir Johnson, Andrew Bynum, Brandon Knight, Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, David West.
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Stephen Curry, Amar'e Stoudemire, Derrick Rose, Monta Ellis, LaMarcus Aldridge, Danilo Gallinari, Tim Duncan, David Lee, Gordon Hayward (Jazz), Raymond Felton, Rudy Gay, Carmelo Anthony and John Salmons.
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Chris Paul, LeBron James, Steve Nash, Blake Griffin, Brandon Jennings, Danny Granger, Al Jefferson, Dwight Howard, Greivis Vasquez (Hornets), Russell Westbrook, Kevin Martin, Darren Collison, Deron Williams, Dwyane Wade.
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Kobe Bryant, Kevin Love, LeBron James, Jason Terry, Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol, Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving, Jeff Teague, Mike Beasley and DeMar DeRozan.
In yesterday's NBA games, some standout fantasy basketball players were Tyreke Evans, Kobe Bryant, Kemba Walker, JaVale McGee, Marc Gasol, Boris Diaw, Amar'e Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Drew Gooden, Andre Iguodala, Jared Dudley and Gordan Hayward. It was a six-game schedule and not many great teams playing.
